Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) Trad on TV

On Michael Palin Full Circle tonight after 30 mins he drives red trad from L.A. to San Francisco. It has an early 3rd brake light.
It should be on iplayer

Well spotted.



Available here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p00xb8jw

I could scarcely believe that this programme was made in 1997! (One of the very few benefits of the pandemic is that the broadcasters are having to raid their archives to fill the schedules, a lot of good stuff is showing up that wouldn't otherwise have got an airing.)

Those full bumpers are awful, neither form nor function particularly the rear

Thanks for link though.

I guess it is Californian regs Richard. I rather like the 3rd brake light though even if it seems somewhat space age.

They look to me like standard bumpers for the year but raised up. I like full bumpers on a trad but at the place a bumper should be, those just look ridiculous.

That would be the minimum bumper height legislation which also created rubber bumpers on the MGB & Midget.

They are mounted on some type of shock absorbing arrangement as a result of the Ralph Nadir stuff I think, many people have had all that rubbish taken off and returned to UK standard other than the hideous indicator reflectors on the flanks.

Some of our cousins across the pond will amend where needed. I really miss Button and Tcherek's posts on here.

Yep I am sure they would know.

Yes, this is to California and Federal safety requirements, my +8 has raised bumpers but not as high as that the front indicators are mounted under the bumper, the bumpers are concertina mounted to absorb energy on impact. I also have the "space aged" 3rd brake light which I like, interestingly it was not wired as a brake light but as normal running light, it is now a brake light.